There are references to the Catahoula during the 1800's, it is said that the
fomous Bowie brothers Jim and Rezin owned some of them, and that they would
sleep with a Catahoula at their feet.

In the early 1900's President Theodore Roosevelt was introduced to a
pair of Catahoulas while on a hunting trip to Louisiana.

Louisiana's Governor from 1948-1956, Earl K. Long, took an interest in
Catahoulas and began collecting them. After Long's death the dogs were almost
forgotten. Two gentlemen named Kline Rushing and Vernon Traxler Jr. along with
other breeders had a vision to make the breed known and began keeping records of
the matings.

The
Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog once known as The Catahoula Cur is a
medium to medium-large versatile working dog breed . It originated in a
region of the Catahoula Lake in central Louisiana and is the official
dog of the State of Louisiana. Billed as the world's most
versatile dog, the Catahoula Leopard is agile and athletic. An
enthusiastic working dogs with a high energy level, territorial,
naturally protective of "their property". They are more primitive
psychologically than most breeds and need consistent obedience
reinforcementThe Catahoula Leopard dog's history begins in the year 1539 when a Spanish explorer named Hernando De Soto arrivied in what is now the southern United States. De Soto and his men were accompanied by "war dogs" believed to be Mastiffs and Greyhounds. The Mastiffs were used during battles with the Indian tribes and
dogs would be let loose to attack any Indian that resisted.
These Mastiffs had a reputation of being able to pull
down very large game with ease. The
Greyhound was used for the hunting of game which fed
De Soto's army. When the spanish left the country in a hurry, the Indian tribes took in and cared for the sick and wounded dogs.

At that time, the Red Wolf, which
then roamed Louisiana, was used by the Indians to
locate game, much in the same manner as hunters use
their dogs today. All these dogs
bred and interbred with each other along with the
Red Wolf. The offspring of the subsequent crosses between
the Red Wolf and these "war dogs" became known as the
"wolf-dog". The Wolf Dog, which is mentioned in Louisiana
History, as well as most history books covering this era, was the
name given to them by Henri Tonti during one of his visits
to Louisiana.

In
1700, with almost 150 years of breeding, this odd looking dog with a
mottled coat and mysterious glass eyes was discovered by French
settlers. Hearing the stories of the abundance of game in
Louisiana the French brought with them their Beauceron dog, a
herding dog also used for hunting wild boar and, it is the belief of
some, that the Beauceron was bred to the" Indian wolf-dog".

There are references to the Catahoula during the 1800's, it is said that the
faomous Bowie brothers Jim and Rezin owned some of them, and that they would
sleep with a Catahoula at their feet.

Daniel Boone is rumored to have had catahoulas, and pictures exist of him today in which cur dogs are present.

In the early 1900's President Theodore Roosevelt was introduced to a
pair of Catahoulas while on a hunting trip to Louisiana.

As the years passed the Catahoula
became a closely guarded secret among the Louisiana farmer's and
hunter's, and then almost became extinct because so little was known
about the breed.

Louisiana's Governor from 1948-1956, Earl K. Long, took an interest in
Catahoulas and began collecting them. Govenor Long often gavea catahoula as a gift. In order to care for so
many dog's, he sent them to the State Prison farm and the State Police Stock
Patrol. After Long's death the dogs were almost
forgotten. Two gentlemen named Kline Rushing (a former state trooper) and Vernon Traxler Jr. along with
other breeders had a vision to make the breed known and began keeping records of
the matings.

The NALC (National Assoication of Louisiana Catahoulas) was established
and incorporated as a regisistry in 1977 by Betty Ann Eaves in memory
of her father, Kline Rushing, founder of "Tophand Kennels.
In 1979, the Catahoula Leopard Cur, the only breed of dog native to Louisiana,
became the official state dog. At that time the
"Cur" was dropped for "dog", which was considered to be less deragatory.

Today the Catahoula Leopard Dog is recognized and registered by the NALC, UKC, ARBA as well as others.

Why is the Catahoula "cur" different from a hound???
A Catahoula is silent on track, only baying when
it’s prey is close by, treed or bayed, where most hounds are open (bark) on track.

A Catahoula is hot-nosed (will only track a recent
scent) where most hounds are cold-nosed (tracking a scent that is quite
old.)

A Catahoula is short-ranged where many hounds will follow the trail for miles and miles.

While an excellent hunter, a Catahoula will also
work or bay cattle, something that most hounds can not do.

A Catahoula is first a
herding dog. Many of the same traits that make the catahoula an
excellent herding dog can be seen in it's hunting style. Unlike
"heeling" herding breeds, catahoulas are "headers" choosing to face thier quarry.

A Catahoula is protective of its family, while most
hounds do not show this trait.